Welcome to the Sunrise Herald with Giselle Goodman, the place to go to get the news from overnight and beyond...

IN THE WEATHER

At 9 a.m., it was 77 degrees and hazy in downtown Portland.

Hot. Humid. Just like yesterday really. Temperatures are soaring and will continue to be mid-summer-like for the next couple days. A high near 82 with a heat index (the summer version of wind chill) upwards near 100. Ozone levels remain at an unhealthy level so the Maine Department of Environmental Protection recommends that people with breathing troubles avoid strenuous activities, like jogging, during mid-day.

From Bill in Rockland: Already 66 at 5:35 a.m. here on the coast under clear skies with still air. Not a creature seems to be stirring.
From Karen in Steep Falls: At 7 a.m. this morning, it is a humid 70 degrees under somewhat cloudy, hazy skies. Happy Monday!
From Shawn in Yarmouth: Monday rolls around again after a VERY summer-like weekend. It is already 69 degrees here in Yarmouth. A mostly cloudy sky, no wind. Another warm one.
From James in Cape Elizabeth At 6 a.m., it is an oppressive 69 degrees in Cape Elizabeth. Good day to stay in a cool place.

ON THE ROAD:

• Construction on I-295 southbound over the Androscoggin River, just before the Route 1 exit in Bath, is in full gear, down to one lane, and tricky to negotiate. Cones and barrels make it look like a roller-coaster at night and clog it with slow-going traffic during the daytime. It will be this way for a while, so take care, slow down and pay attention.

ON THE OCEAN:

The wind is variable around 5 knots, becoming easterly late this morning. Seas 1 to 2 feet with a slight chance of showers later. Honestly, probably the most comfortable place to be this day is going to be in the middle of Casco Bay.

High tide was at 4:05 a.m. and returns at 4:51 p.m. Low tide at 10:29 a.m. and then again at 10:53 p.m.
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SOUTHERN MAINE — It's probably a safe bet to assume that if you live or work within the realm of Maine's 1st Congressional District, you'll run into a candidate, or candidate supporter, today.

And with tomorrow's primary election drawing near, they're out in force to get as many votes as they can.

This morning on the Casco Bay Bridge at 7:30 a.m., each end was camp to a different waving candidate; Democrat Ethan Strimling on one end, Republican Charlie Summers on the other.

The Democratic primary race is a crowded one, made of up names that by now, probably sound familiar: Strimling, Adam Cote, Mark Lawrence, Chellie Pingree, Michael Brennan and Steve Meister.

Just because the choices for Republican voters are fewer, it doesn't make the decision-making any easier. Besides Summers, Dean Scontras also has his name in the running for the chance to move on to the ballot in the fall.

The race has no incumbent because Democratic Rep. Tom Allen is leaving the 1st Congressional District seat to run against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. He, meanwhile, is keeping his face in the public with a press conference today at 11 a.m. in Portland to discuss legislation that may help small businesses and middle class Americans with rising food and gas prices.

Wherever you stand on the party line, just remember that tomorrow is the day to move the line to the polls. If you haven't decided and you want to meet one of the folks mentioned above face to face, you won't have to go far to look.

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CARIBOU (AP) — A 42-year-old Ashland woman will spend 20 months in prison for striking and killing her fiance with her car after a night out at a local bar.

Prosecutors said last week that Lauren Burke pleaded guilty to aggravated drunken driving in the death of 48-year-old George Tozier Sr. of Ashland. As part of the plea agreement, a manslaughter charge was dropped.

Burke was sentenced to eight years in prison with all but 20 months suspended, and had her driver's license suspended for 10 years.

Police said Burke drove her car into Tozier at 2 a.m. in February 2007 while he was walking home from a bar where the couple had been drinking.
Police later found Burke in a nearby home under some blankets on a couch. She told police she couldn't remember the accident or how she got in the home.

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PORTLAND — Officers from the Cumberland County Community Corrections Center officials this morning said Jason Lear is still on the loose after walking away from the pre-release center yesterday.

Jason Lear, 32, escaped from custody when he was allowed outside to smoke a cigarette shortly after he returned to the Community Corrections Center from his work-release job, the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Lear was still missing late in the day. He was described by police as 5 feet 10 inches tall and approximately 216 pounds.

Police asked anyone with information about Lear's whereabouts to contact the sheriff's office at 774-5939, extension 2133.

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LINCOLN — A number of schools graduated Maine's celebrated high school seniors this weekend, but one stood out above the rest at Mattanawcook Academy (for me, at least).

Tyler Edward White, 18, graduated from the SAD 67 school yesterday, amid the sweltering heat of the school's gymnasium. White, the school's salutatorian, gave an inspirational speech about the importance of individual achievement.

It is something he is well acquainted with. White is heading to Colby College on Presidential Scholarship, aided also by a number of local scholarships. He is a superior, all-state basketball star and a talented trumpet player. He was honored this year at the State House in Augusta on April 1: "Recognizing ... Tyler White, of Lincoln, a senior at Mattanawcook Academy, who won an Outstanding Musician Award as a soloist at the Maine Instrumental Jazz Festival. Tyler also had the highest score at the All-State Jazz Festival."

Tyler also happens to be my cousin – who I so fondly remember as a smiling, happy baby, energetic toddler, so-bright-it's-scary little kid. He graduated top of his class, literally, towering over them at 6-foot 4-inches tall. Tyler Edward White...who was so small at his first Christmas, he comfortably fit in the bed of a toy dump truck.

Congratulations, also, to all the seniors of Maine, who flipped their tassels this weekend and went forth into the great unknown of "the real world."

To read about other bright young Mainers, who certainly made tears of joy flow nearer to Portland, CLICK HERE.

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